Specialty chemicals company LANXESS and energy company bp are entering into a strategic partnership for the use of sustainable raw materials in high-tech plastics production.

bp will supply sustainably produced cyclohexane to the LANXESS’ production site in Antwerp, Belgium, starting in the fourth quarter of 2021. With this partnership, both companies, which already have a long-standing business relationship, want to significantly advance the production of sustainable plastics.

“The chemical industry plays an important role in the expansion of the circular economy and efficient sustainable management. To meet the global challenges of climate change, creative approaches to solutions and collaboration are needed in service of our customers. We are pleased to accompany LANXESS as a strong partner with a broad portfolio of raw materials from renewable sources,” says Wolfgang Stückle, Vice President -  Midstream Refining and Specialities Solutions Europe and Africa, bp.

“High-performance plastics are the solution for many sustainable products, for example in various e-mobility applications. It is now important to also make the production of this valuable material sustainable. In this context, the use of bio-based raw materials, along with modern recycling processes, is a key lever. We are delighted to have bp as a strategic partner at our side,” says Marcel Beermann, Head - Global Procurement and Logistics, LANXESS.

LANXESS uses cyclohexane as a precursor in the production of polyamide 6, a high-performance plastic that is used primarily in the automotive industry as well as in the electrical and consumer goods industries.